Friday prayer to resume in big mosques after suspension over coronavirus: Egypt’s PM

CAIRO – 20 August 2020: After five months of almost total suspension of Muslim’s Friday prayer due to spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said big mosques that can maintain coronavirus preventive measures can receive worshippers for the Friday prayer starting August 28.

Muslims go in large numbers, especially in Arab countries, to perform the the Friday prayer every week at the afternoon in mosques, instead of the Zohr prayer, the second among five prayers a day.

In March, the Cabinet announced closing mosques to help curb coronavirus, but few months later it said worshippers will be allowed to perform daily prayers, excluding the Friday prayers and occasional prayers in feasts.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Madbouli said public gardens and beaches, instead, will remain closed, but parks that can be controlled, including Giza Zoo and Alexandria's Montazah Gardens can reopen with a limited number of tickets daily.

As part of preventive measures, Madbouli also said Egyptians and foreigners coming from abroad will have to show negative PCR result before entering Egypt.

Concerning vaccines, he noted that Egypt will obtain coronavirus vaccines once they are approved and made available, without specifying names. He added that 2.5 million vaccines will be available for seasonal flu.